NYFW: DESIGUAL F/W 2014

One is accustomed to seeing somber faces on the fashion runways. The dominant feeling is that smiling takes emphasis away from the clothes and turns one’s attention to the personality and presentability of the model. The design team at Desigual holds a very different opinion and sent a clear message this afternoon: Have fun, enjoy life, and cram in everything that possibly makes you happy. Models walked briskly down the catwalk giving each other high fives and “hey girl” as they passed each other, made heart signs with their hands at the end of the runway, and smiled as though someone had just fully endowed their trust funds. The spirit was high and the attitude was contagious. By the end of the show, everyone in the room felt better.

But had they paid any attention to the fashion? Again, the Desigual team went contrary to convention by creating a collection that was absolutely impossible to miss. So yes, everyone was definitely talking about the clothes, but not everything they were saying was positive.

What Desigual did to make the clothes memorable was to put together every possible pattern imaginable … in every piece. No, you’re not misreading that. Every piece contained multiple pattern designs, polka dots, checks, stripes, flowers, applique, sequins, shimmering fabrics and even Herringbone. All of it. Together.

My eyes hurt.

Yet, most of the ensembles worked and won over those in attendance largely because the models were not staid and mopey as they whisked up and down the runway. If one is going to wear clothes from this collection, one has to be amply prepared to don the proper attitude as well. These are not clothes for a sad sack. Hemlines are WAY short. Silhouettes are VERY feminine. In fact, the Desigual team gave the sexiness of their line an extra boost by hiring several highly recognizable Victoria’s Secret models to participate in their runway dance.

To a large extent, the shorter a dress or skirt was, the better the concept worked. These probably aren’t the pieces one is going to wear to work, and there’s nothing here if one is heading to mass. The creatively designed shoes were fun to watch, and the models didn’t seem to have any difficulty walking in them, but I’m pretty certain they would not have fared well on the ice outside. The two-toned gloves were another touch that is not likely to sell well.

Desigual has created a fall/winter collection that is fun, creative, and sure to turn heads. While the style is so loud and busy it may not suit everyone, it was definitely a pleasant break on this first very busy day of fashion week.